For hiring managers and recruiters, keywords outline the necessary skills and experience they’re looking for in candidates. These are the specific responsibilities, qualifications and expectations associated with a particular role.

When the hiring manager or recruiter begins reviewing applicants, they’re going to be looking for those keywords. Using keywords will make sure your resume meets their criteria and shows hiring managers you read the job announcement and paid attention to the details that mattered.

While it may seem like extra work, identifying and using keywords in your resume is a good investment of time for job seekers. But what are some common keywords, and how can you correctly identify them in a job announcement?

To find the keywords relevant to the application, start by reading the entire job announcement to understand the responsibilities and requirements that recruiters expect. Look for words like “manage,” “coordinate,” “develop,” or “assist,” which will lead you to the keywords the recruiter wants to see.

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This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to keywords. Visit VA Careers now to learn more about identifying them and employing them to improve your resume.

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One Comment

  1. Edward Harrington December 7, 2024 at 22:41 - Reply

    I really dislike this “teaser” approach to giving Veterans information. The tactic is to provide mostly non-information, and then require me to go to another website to get the actual information. If you give me a link to open, it should contain the entire article. If we are trying to be helpful, let’s actually be helpful.

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